Kingsley Burrell custody death: Police probe ‘secret’ Facebook site

Police are investigating a secret Facebook site which has called on police officers to stage a counter protest to a demonstration that was planned to demand justice for Kingsley Burrell, who died in custody.

The call was made on Facebook page “Support for PC Adey” – which describes itself as a “secret group with 1.2k members” – and contains messages from supporters, some of whom appear to be serving officers.

That is a reference to PC Paul Adey, sacked by West Midlands Police last month for breaching standards over the restraint used on Mr Burrell after he was arrested and sectioned in 2011.

Facebook offers users the opportunity to create three kinds of groups: Public, Closed or Secret. The latter can be seen only by members and former members, but the Sunday Mercury has seen some of them.

Many vent anger about the officer’s treatment and are highly critical of community activist Desmond Jaddoo and Charlie Williams, leading members of the Kingsley Burrell campaign.

West Midlands Police says it is looking into the site. A spokesman told the Sunday Mercury: “We are looking into whether any of these comments have been made by officers and staff of West Midlands Police.